Thursday 29th October 2009.
BBC 1 QUESTION TIME.
This weeks edition came from Llandudno so we watched with great interest to see if we could spot any faces in the audience; we were not disappointed as one of the questions from the audience was from Nigel Roberts, an old friend and customer and we also spotted Julie Fallon Smith who used to work for us many years ago, her question was we found out later edited out! The panel featured John Sargeant, who was very good and talked a lot of sence,Jacqui Smith the ex-Home Secretary, who was murdered by the audience over her expenses claims as was the Shadow Minister for Wales,Cheryl Gillan who had amongst many things claimed for dog food! The Lib-Dem MP Lembit Opik was as usual Lembit Opik! But the star of the show was Elfyn Llwyd,MP for Plaid Cymru who talked a lot of sence,it is a pity that the small parties don’t get heard a lot more; the audience were also very good and had some very good questions and comebacks to the panel.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 26th/27th/28th October 2009.
On Monday morning I went on my now regular run over to Estepona and Manilva to catch up with life in the outside world! At the English butchers they had got in some gravy browning that I had been chasing for a few months, at home there was a letter from the Pensions people updating my details and telling us about the changes in the system in the future, not that it matters to us as we have both been working for over 45 years and Brenda already receives hers and mine is due in 12 months time ! In the evening we had cold Chicken for supper with the leftover vegetables. When I was in Manilva I took a quick picture of the new wine centre which is shooting up and looks to be on course to open in the middle of 2010,as you can see below.
The weather has settled down again and it is now warm and sunny all the time, the only problem we have had is that the electricity went off during the night for about five hours and when it came back on in the morning it was not at full power so I’ve had all sorts of problems with the phone and IT connections,the TV system,fridge and various lights in the villa! During Tuesday I then made a Beef stew for dinner which we had with Cabbage and Baby Beetroot.The gardeners came over and carried on with the outside hedge trimming during the day until the large commercial cutter blew up!
Wednesday was a cleaning and chores day and Joan was expecting the Physiotherapist in the afternoon but she called in the morning to say that she was not very well and would get back to us later in the week.We have had a very brief call from Chris to say that he will call us on Thursday to catch up with all his news and ours at the same time ! For supper we are having Sausages with crispy smoked Bacon and fried onions served on top of Brenda’s famous mash, I picked them up from the butchers on Monday.
On Monday morning I went on my now regular run over to Estepona and Manilva to catch up with life in the outside world! At the English butchers they had got in some gravy browning that I had been chasing for a few months, at home there was a letter from the Pensions people updating my details and telling us about the changes in the system in the future, not that it matters to us as we have both been working for over 45 years and Brenda already receives hers and mine is due in 12 months time ! In the evening we had cold Chicken for supper with the leftover vegetables. When I was in Manilva I took a quick picture of the new wine centre which is shooting up and looks to be on course to open in the middle of 2010,as you can see below.
The weather has settled down again and it is now warm and sunny all the time, the only problem we have had is that the electricity went off during the night for about five hours and when it came back on in the morning it was not at full power so I’ve had all sorts of problems with the phone and IT connections,the TV system,fridge and various lights in the villa! During Tuesday I then made a Beef stew for dinner which we had with Cabbage and Baby Beetroot.The gardeners came over and carried on with the outside hedge trimming during the day until the large commercial cutter blew up!
Wednesday was a cleaning and chores day and Joan was expecting the Physiotherapist in the afternoon but she called in the morning to say that she was not very well and would get back to us later in the week.We have had a very brief call from Chris to say that he will call us on Thursday to catch up with all his news and ours at the same time ! For supper we are having Sausages with crispy smoked Bacon and fried onions served on top of Brenda’s famous mash, I picked them up from the butchers on Monday.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday 22nd/23rd/24th/25th October 2009.
On Thursday we took things easy and had a quiet day pottering about the villa catching up with the chores after the excitement of the good news on Wednesday; Joan is fine but still a little bit worried as we have had no contact with Chris for over a week and she starts to think the worse when he does not call. The weather is getting nicer everyday and the forecast for the weekend is hot, we went down to the supermarket in Tarifa on Friday for the weekend shopping and for supper we had Pan Fried fillet of Hake for a change with Asparagus spears and Spinach. By Saturday it was up to 28 degs and we sat out on the balcony, with Joan, for a salad lunch before watching the sport with a live match on later in the day; in the evening after a steak and frit dinner we watched SCD.and later the BBC Electric Proms which was absolutely fabulous, Dame Shirley Bassey was just unbeleavable,her voice was just the same and she performed her socks off !Catch it if you can on IPlayer.As the sun went down on Saturday evening the sky was something to be seen and I tried to catch the view from the top terrace as the sun set down into the Atlantic past Africa, the pictures below give you a little taste of the sky and hopefully if Father Xmas treats me to the latest Digi-Cam ,from Gibraltar, they will be even better the next time !The sky started off the same on Sunday morning and the day was the hottest this week but we did notice that the clocks going back an hour have made a big difference as it was nearly dark as we sat down to our Sunday lunch of Roast Chicken with all the trimmings including my proper homemade gravy which is finger coating good ! To finish of a great day Liverpool played Manchester Utd off the park and Torres scored a wonder goal in their two nil defeat, Sir Alex blamed the ref. as usual!!
On Thursday we took things easy and had a quiet day pottering about the villa catching up with the chores after the excitement of the good news on Wednesday; Joan is fine but still a little bit worried as we have had no contact with Chris for over a week and she starts to think the worse when he does not call. The weather is getting nicer everyday and the forecast for the weekend is hot, we went down to the supermarket in Tarifa on Friday for the weekend shopping and for supper we had Pan Fried fillet of Hake for a change with Asparagus spears and Spinach. By Saturday it was up to 28 degs and we sat out on the balcony, with Joan, for a salad lunch before watching the sport with a live match on later in the day; in the evening after a steak and frit dinner we watched SCD.and later the BBC Electric Proms which was absolutely fabulous, Dame Shirley Bassey was just unbeleavable,her voice was just the same and she performed her socks off !Catch it if you can on IPlayer.As the sun went down on Saturday evening the sky was something to be seen and I tried to catch the view from the top terrace as the sun set down into the Atlantic past Africa, the pictures below give you a little taste of the sky and hopefully if Father Xmas treats me to the latest Digi-Cam ,from Gibraltar, they will be even better the next time !The sky started off the same on Sunday morning and the day was the hottest this week but we did notice that the clocks going back an hour have made a big difference as it was nearly dark as we sat down to our Sunday lunch of Roast Chicken with all the trimmings including my proper homemade gravy which is finger coating good ! To finish of a great day Liverpool played Manchester Utd off the park and Torres scored a wonder goal in their two nil defeat, Sir Alex blamed the ref. as usual!!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 19th/20th/21st October 2009.
Monday 19th.
We had to get up bright and early as I had an appointment at the surgery, in Manilva, with our doctor for a check up; he gave me the once over and updated my records, my blood pressure is under control as is the Diabetes level, I’ve just got to keep taking the tablets ,for now. He then diagnosed a trapped nerve and muscle damage in the back of my shoulder and gave me a prescription for a course of tablets to relieve the pain and help with the discomfort,which it has! I then called into check the house and collect any mail before going to the chemists in the main street,the bank in Estepona and also some shopping at the large hypermarket for things we can’t get around here.On the way back I picked up some Braising steak from the English butchers and Pork Cutlets from the Spanish butcher before heading back to Tarifa.On checking for e-mails etc. we noticed that one of our friends has come onto Facebook,welcome Joyce at long last! In the evening we had Turkey breast flattened and cooked with Balsamic vinegar with Brenda’s green vegetables and new potatoes.
Tuesday 20th.
The garden people arrived in the morning and are working on the pine hedges all around the outside of the property which have not been seen to in years, at the same time Juan fixed the leak under the sink in the kitchen which had got bad over the weekend. During the day I got the Braised steak on the go with lots of vegetables inc. Carrots,Celery.Beans.Mushrooms and sauté Onions which we had later for dinner with Brenda’s mashed potatoe!Over the last couple of weeks we have been watching on BBC2 the very interesting series “ Wainwrights Walks” and “ Railway Walks ” introduced by Julia Bradbury and later I watched the first of the electric proms featuring Robbie Williams who was excellent and all the reviews in the papers and on the television the next day said the same !
Wednesday 21st October, Result Day.
This morning we had to be up very early,again,to go across to the Costa del Sol hospital on the other side of Marbella as we had an appointment with the consultant for the results of my Prostate Biopsy,the very short outcome being that my test had proved negative !! We came out rather happy and then went for a champagne breakfast in the Don Carlos ***** hotel next door !!! On returning to Casa Olimpia we made all the phone calls to family and friend who have supported us over the last few weeks and posted messages on Facebook and Twitter ! In the evening we had Chicken curry for supper, we have been on comfort food for the last few days as the the weather has changed for the worse, with high winds and heavy rain, the first in six months but then it is back to normal on Friday with very hot and sunny temperatures forecast for the next seven days!
Monday 19th.
We had to get up bright and early as I had an appointment at the surgery, in Manilva, with our doctor for a check up; he gave me the once over and updated my records, my blood pressure is under control as is the Diabetes level, I’ve just got to keep taking the tablets ,for now. He then diagnosed a trapped nerve and muscle damage in the back of my shoulder and gave me a prescription for a course of tablets to relieve the pain and help with the discomfort,which it has! I then called into check the house and collect any mail before going to the chemists in the main street,the bank in Estepona and also some shopping at the large hypermarket for things we can’t get around here.On the way back I picked up some Braising steak from the English butchers and Pork Cutlets from the Spanish butcher before heading back to Tarifa.On checking for e-mails etc. we noticed that one of our friends has come onto Facebook,welcome Joyce at long last! In the evening we had Turkey breast flattened and cooked with Balsamic vinegar with Brenda’s green vegetables and new potatoes.
Tuesday 20th.
The garden people arrived in the morning and are working on the pine hedges all around the outside of the property which have not been seen to in years, at the same time Juan fixed the leak under the sink in the kitchen which had got bad over the weekend. During the day I got the Braised steak on the go with lots of vegetables inc. Carrots,Celery.Beans.Mushrooms and sauté Onions which we had later for dinner with Brenda’s mashed potatoe!Over the last couple of weeks we have been watching on BBC2 the very interesting series “ Wainwrights Walks” and “ Railway Walks ” introduced by Julia Bradbury and later I watched the first of the electric proms featuring Robbie Williams who was excellent and all the reviews in the papers and on the television the next day said the same !
Wednesday 21st October, Result Day.
This morning we had to be up very early,again,to go across to the Costa del Sol hospital on the other side of Marbella as we had an appointment with the consultant for the results of my Prostate Biopsy,the very short outcome being that my test had proved negative !! We came out rather happy and then went for a champagne breakfast in the Don Carlos ***** hotel next door !!! On returning to Casa Olimpia we made all the phone calls to family and friend who have supported us over the last few weeks and posted messages on Facebook and Twitter ! In the evening we had Chicken curry for supper, we have been on comfort food for the last few days as the the weather has changed for the worse, with high winds and heavy rain, the first in six months but then it is back to normal on Friday with very hot and sunny temperatures forecast for the next seven days!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA AND MARBELLA.
Saturday/Sunday 17th/18th October 2009.
Saturday 17th.
After breakfast on the balcony we went down to Tarifa to catch up with the shopping; on our return Brenda went into one of her cleaning modes when every thing gets the full treatment so I retired to the TV lounge to watch the sport ! The weather is hot and sunny with no wind so the days are very pleasant and by the afternoon it reaches 26 degs.In the evening we had steak and frits for dinner and then settled down to watch SCD after the Grand Prix qualifying which was exciting.
Sunday 18th.
We all got ourselves dressed up after breakfast as we were going to the cemetery in Marbella; we had promised to take Joan, if none of the family were here, to the grave of her late husband as she likes to go on the anniversary of his birthday to lay some flowers; it was a beautiful day and we found the cemetery at the top of the old part of the town. Joan has picked this spot as it is the most beautiful situated cemetery with all the trees offering shade and tranquility, as you can see in the picture. Joan arranged the flowers herself and had a little chat to him; it was very moving but also very nice at the same time. The cemetery has all the usual walled graves covered in flowers as well as large gravestones and family mausoleums which are all looked after as well as the grounds. We then came back to Guadalmina for our Sunday lunch at Tricky Rickys;it turned out that Joan lived just behind the restaurant by the side of the golf course and the last time she was in the restaurant was when the whole family had a surprise birthday breakfast party for him a few years ago! All in all it was a very happy day and Joan was very strong and we enjoyed her company as we had another lovely Sunday lunch. When we got back to the villa I watched the Grand Prix from Brazil and later Emma on BBC1. A very nice day down on the very hot and sunny Costa del Sol.
Saturday 17th.
After breakfast on the balcony we went down to Tarifa to catch up with the shopping; on our return Brenda went into one of her cleaning modes when every thing gets the full treatment so I retired to the TV lounge to watch the sport ! The weather is hot and sunny with no wind so the days are very pleasant and by the afternoon it reaches 26 degs.In the evening we had steak and frits for dinner and then settled down to watch SCD after the Grand Prix qualifying which was exciting.
Sunday 18th.
We all got ourselves dressed up after breakfast as we were going to the cemetery in Marbella; we had promised to take Joan, if none of the family were here, to the grave of her late husband as she likes to go on the anniversary of his birthday to lay some flowers; it was a beautiful day and we found the cemetery at the top of the old part of the town. Joan has picked this spot as it is the most beautiful situated cemetery with all the trees offering shade and tranquility, as you can see in the picture. Joan arranged the flowers herself and had a little chat to him; it was very moving but also very nice at the same time. The cemetery has all the usual walled graves covered in flowers as well as large gravestones and family mausoleums which are all looked after as well as the grounds. We then came back to Guadalmina for our Sunday lunch at Tricky Rickys;it turned out that Joan lived just behind the restaurant by the side of the golf course and the last time she was in the restaurant was when the whole family had a surprise birthday breakfast party for him a few years ago! All in all it was a very happy day and Joan was very strong and we enjoyed her company as we had another lovely Sunday lunch. When we got back to the villa I watched the Grand Prix from Brazil and later Emma on BBC1. A very nice day down on the very hot and sunny Costa del Sol.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA AND ESTEPONA.
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 14th/15th/16th October 2009.
On Wednesday morning the phone started ringing; the first call was from the hospital in Marbella to arrange an appointment with the consultant for next Wednesday to hear the results of the Prostate Biopsy, next the surgery rang to make an appointment with my doctor to review my case and check out the pain below my shoulder blade and down my arm, on Monday and lastly the medical centre in Estepona rang for me to go and have an eye test this Friday morning! I will survive!!
We have settled back into life at the villa and Joan is fine along with the two dogs who had a shower, blow dry and brush which they do not like and is a major operation. Chris was due home, again, but sadly as I am typing this there is still no news. In the evening we had Escalope of Pork in a lime butter sauce with baby new potatoes for supper. The weather continues to be warm and sunny with the temperature at 26/27 degs and higher. We went down to Tarifa on Thursday morning for some tablets for Joan and light bulbs for around the villa and when we returned there was an e-mail from the Marriott Resort in Marbella offering us two days work at the start of November, which we have done before, on their customer experience sales executive training programme, they pay us with vouchers to use later. In the afternoon I made Chicken curry for dinner, which I have now built up my spices and pastes here at the villa as we spot them in the different supermarkets on our travels.
Friday morning we had a bit of an emergency on our hands as Brenda had cracked a dental repair she had earlier this year so as I was on my way to Estepona for my eye test she came along and I dropped her off at our dentists, without an appointment, he is very good and saw her straight away and arranged to have the problem solved by two o’clock, This ment that we had a couple of hours to spare so we went for a spot of lunch on the front in Estepona as you can see in the pictures below, as it happened it also gave my eyes time to clear as they has put some drops in to dilate my pupils and I could not see to drive! As usual on Friday we had Salmon fillets pan fried and served on spinach for supper before we settled down to watch the TV.
On Wednesday morning the phone started ringing; the first call was from the hospital in Marbella to arrange an appointment with the consultant for next Wednesday to hear the results of the Prostate Biopsy, next the surgery rang to make an appointment with my doctor to review my case and check out the pain below my shoulder blade and down my arm, on Monday and lastly the medical centre in Estepona rang for me to go and have an eye test this Friday morning! I will survive!!
We have settled back into life at the villa and Joan is fine along with the two dogs who had a shower, blow dry and brush which they do not like and is a major operation. Chris was due home, again, but sadly as I am typing this there is still no news. In the evening we had Escalope of Pork in a lime butter sauce with baby new potatoes for supper. The weather continues to be warm and sunny with the temperature at 26/27 degs and higher. We went down to Tarifa on Thursday morning for some tablets for Joan and light bulbs for around the villa and when we returned there was an e-mail from the Marriott Resort in Marbella offering us two days work at the start of November, which we have done before, on their customer experience sales executive training programme, they pay us with vouchers to use later. In the afternoon I made Chicken curry for dinner, which I have now built up my spices and pastes here at the villa as we spot them in the different supermarkets on our travels.
Friday morning we had a bit of an emergency on our hands as Brenda had cracked a dental repair she had earlier this year so as I was on my way to Estepona for my eye test she came along and I dropped her off at our dentists, without an appointment, he is very good and saw her straight away and arranged to have the problem solved by two o’clock, This ment that we had a couple of hours to spare so we went for a spot of lunch on the front in Estepona as you can see in the pictures below, as it happened it also gave my eyes time to clear as they has put some drops in to dilate my pupils and I could not see to drive! As usual on Friday we had Salmon fillets pan fried and served on spinach for supper before we settled down to watch the TV.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
GUADALMINA ALTA.
Thursday/Tuesday 8th/13th. October 2009.
For the last six days we have been over in Guadalmina Alta looking after the villa as Clive and Carolyn had a short brake over in London;Mano and Anna looked after Casa Olimpia at the same time-thank you ! I dropped them at the airport at Malaga and then came back over to Tarifa and we moved across in the afternoon, Bruno and Abbie were delighted to see us and the two house cats also, the fish in the pond have grown spectacularly as has the wild cats in the garden-now ten! On Friday morning we went out to do the shopping and called into see Gissy to thank her for looking after the girls hair, back at Le Casa del Abuelo Clive’s mum has moved into the old part of the Villa, Joan, yes another one is very independent and looks after herself. Brenda has been for a swim every afternoon as the sun moves around but sadly I have not been able to as I have a bad shoulder at the moment. The weather is staying warm and sunny every day and the forecast is also looking good, we have been eating out on the balcony and the view has also improved due to the new glass front ,as you can see in the picture below On Saturday evening we popped out to Restaurante Victor for dinner and had another excellent meal and on Sunday afternoon we had our Sunday lunch at Ricky’s which was very good as usual. Monday was a bank holiday in Spain so everything was closed and the roads were not busy; we picked the folks up from the airport on Tuesday afternoon and then came back over to the villa in Tarifa to let Mano and Anna escapes to Manilva !
For the last six days we have been over in Guadalmina Alta looking after the villa as Clive and Carolyn had a short brake over in London;Mano and Anna looked after Casa Olimpia at the same time-thank you ! I dropped them at the airport at Malaga and then came back over to Tarifa and we moved across in the afternoon, Bruno and Abbie were delighted to see us and the two house cats also, the fish in the pond have grown spectacularly as has the wild cats in the garden-now ten! On Friday morning we went out to do the shopping and called into see Gissy to thank her for looking after the girls hair, back at Le Casa del Abuelo Clive’s mum has moved into the old part of the Villa, Joan, yes another one is very independent and looks after herself. Brenda has been for a swim every afternoon as the sun moves around but sadly I have not been able to as I have a bad shoulder at the moment. The weather is staying warm and sunny every day and the forecast is also looking good, we have been eating out on the balcony and the view has also improved due to the new glass front ,as you can see in the picture below On Saturday evening we popped out to Restaurante Victor for dinner and had another excellent meal and on Sunday afternoon we had our Sunday lunch at Ricky’s which was very good as usual. Monday was a bank holiday in Spain so everything was closed and the roads were not busy; we picked the folks up from the airport on Tuesday afternoon and then came back over to the villa in Tarifa to let Mano and Anna escapes to Manilva !
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
CASA OLIMPIA.
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 5th/6th/7th October.
Monday 5th.
We were up bright and early as we where going to Gibraltar and I wanted to make sure that we got across the border before the traffic built up and the flights in at around 11-o clock started; it also means that the multi storey car park still has space at the bottom of Main Street.I left the girls to shop and shot up to the top of Main street as I was going to a particular shop to order some parts for my shaver.As you can see the three sisters managed to shop till they dropped before we bought the duty free allowance; on the way out of Gibraltar we saw the large cruise line just arriving in the port as you can just see in the pictures below. On Monday evening we had cold Pork and leftovers with crispy Roast potatoes for supper.
Tuesday 6th.
In the morning we left the sisters packing as we went down to the supermarket in Tarifa to stock up with the essentials; For Lunch we had individual Fish Pies that I had made up from the pie that I put in the deep freeze a couple of weeks ago. Over lunch time I managed to make contact with Jack and Lyn on the Skype phone so the sisters had another long chat, we could also see them in Australia but they could not see us! In the late afternoon Vidal and Gissy arrived, with two friends who we had not met before,Gissy had promised to come to see to Brenda’s hair and ended up also doing Norah’s, Jenny’s and Joans! We went down on the lower terrace and it soon resembled a hairdressers shop! Meanwhile the Vina Sol was flowing as we put the world to rights. The picture below shows the four girls after having the full treatment, thanks Gissy ! We then all sat around the kitchen table and ate bowls of hot Beef stew with crusty bread, that I had made earlier in the day, washed down with a fine Rioja.
Wednesday 7th.
This morning we took Norah and Jenny down to the border to go across to the airport for their flight home; the picture below shows them saying their goodbyes as they set off into Gibraltar, it is only a hundred yards to the airport. We are missing them all ready and are looking forward to them coming to see us every year from now on! When we got back to the villa I went on the PC and have now hopefully mastered being able to get the web cam working both ways so the folks in Australia can see us at the same time, Vidal gave me some tips. Watch out also to Tim and Thea in Old Colwyn ! when we are next in touch. As we came past the main port there was another very large liner just docking; on checking when we got back it turned out to be the “ Independence of Sea ” It is the largest cruise liner in the world and is owned by Royal Caribbean,they are currently building two more the same; it is 160-000 tons, has 15 decks and over 3700 hundred passengers ! We are watching out for it as it on the way to Southampton later today but there is a sea mist. When we were in Gibraltar I was checking out the latest digi cams which have a far greater zoom and negations are under way to purchase one for xmas ! On the way back we went across to see Clive and Carolyn in Guadalmina as we are going across on Thursday lunchtime to look after the villa and animals for six days;Mano and Anna are moving in here whilst we are away.
Monday 5th.
We were up bright and early as we where going to Gibraltar and I wanted to make sure that we got across the border before the traffic built up and the flights in at around 11-o clock started; it also means that the multi storey car park still has space at the bottom of Main Street.I left the girls to shop and shot up to the top of Main street as I was going to a particular shop to order some parts for my shaver.As you can see the three sisters managed to shop till they dropped before we bought the duty free allowance; on the way out of Gibraltar we saw the large cruise line just arriving in the port as you can just see in the pictures below. On Monday evening we had cold Pork and leftovers with crispy Roast potatoes for supper.
Tuesday 6th.
In the morning we left the sisters packing as we went down to the supermarket in Tarifa to stock up with the essentials; For Lunch we had individual Fish Pies that I had made up from the pie that I put in the deep freeze a couple of weeks ago. Over lunch time I managed to make contact with Jack and Lyn on the Skype phone so the sisters had another long chat, we could also see them in Australia but they could not see us! In the late afternoon Vidal and Gissy arrived, with two friends who we had not met before,Gissy had promised to come to see to Brenda’s hair and ended up also doing Norah’s, Jenny’s and Joans! We went down on the lower terrace and it soon resembled a hairdressers shop! Meanwhile the Vina Sol was flowing as we put the world to rights. The picture below shows the four girls after having the full treatment, thanks Gissy ! We then all sat around the kitchen table and ate bowls of hot Beef stew with crusty bread, that I had made earlier in the day, washed down with a fine Rioja.
Wednesday 7th.
This morning we took Norah and Jenny down to the border to go across to the airport for their flight home; the picture below shows them saying their goodbyes as they set off into Gibraltar, it is only a hundred yards to the airport. We are missing them all ready and are looking forward to them coming to see us every year from now on! When we got back to the villa I went on the PC and have now hopefully mastered being able to get the web cam working both ways so the folks in Australia can see us at the same time, Vidal gave me some tips. Watch out also to Tim and Thea in Old Colwyn ! when we are next in touch. As we came past the main port there was another very large liner just docking; on checking when we got back it turned out to be the “ Independence of Sea ” It is the largest cruise liner in the world and is owned by Royal Caribbean,they are currently building two more the same; it is 160-000 tons, has 15 decks and over 3700 hundred passengers ! We are watching out for it as it on the way to Southampton later today but there is a sea mist. When we were in Gibraltar I was checking out the latest digi cams which have a far greater zoom and negations are under way to purchase one for xmas ! On the way back we went across to see Clive and Carolyn in Guadalmina as we are going across on Thursday lunchtime to look after the villa and animals for six days;Mano and Anna are moving in here whilst we are away.
CASA OLIMPIA.
Saturday/Sunday 3rd/4th October 2009.
In the morning I dropped the sisters down in Tarifa to do some souvenir shopping;meanwhile we caught up with the housework! In the evening we had steak and frits for dinner and then settled down to watch some TV.On Sunday we all had a lie in after the week out and about on the Costa del Sol;the weather is getting nicer every day,warm and very hot with even no breeze here in Tarifa ! The Roast Loin of Pork was succulent and we all sat down to our late Sunday lunch after spending some time on the balcony in the morning watching the ships go by.
In the morning I dropped the sisters down in Tarifa to do some souvenir shopping;meanwhile we caught up with the housework! In the evening we had steak and frits for dinner and then settled down to watch some TV.On Sunday we all had a lie in after the week out and about on the Costa del Sol;the weather is getting nicer every day,warm and very hot with even no breeze here in Tarifa ! The Roast Loin of Pork was succulent and we all sat down to our late Sunday lunch after spending some time on the balcony in the morning watching the ships go by.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
Friday, October 02, 2009
ESTEPONA BENALMADENA RONDA.
Thursday/Friday 1st/2nd October 2009.
Thursday 1st.
In the morning we went across to Estepona as I had arranged to meet Mano at the bank to pass on some payments for the work completed at the villa; Norah and Jenny went shopping and sightseeing as we had also arranged to see Ben and Andrea over in Benalmadena,they are over for a weeks holiday and are staying in the all inclusive holiday village. When we arrived the gate security would not let us in, the only way was to pay for a day pass,45euros each! So they came to the gate and we had a short chat, their baby daughter Freya is now 15 months old with blonde hair and blue eyes and we have fallen in love with her as they introduced her to us as Uncle Malcolm and Aunty Brenda ! The other piece of news they told us was that they are getting married in May next year, guess where, Gibraltar ! This means that the whole family will be down here in our neck of the woods and we will get to go to the wedding, when we receive the invitation ! We then went back over to Estepona and picked Norah and Jenny up and stopped at the marina for a quick snack lunch at the “ Irish Fiddler ”as you can see in the picture. In the evening back at the villa we had the Barnsley Lamb chops on Boulangere potatoes for dinner.
Friday 2nd.
Today the weather forecast was very good and so it proved; we drove over to Manilva then up through the mountains to Casares,Gaucin,Algatocin and into Ronda. We gave the girls the tour around Ronda and after parking the car we walked around the walls and past the famous bullring and down to the bridge across the gorge. For lunch we went to our favorite restaurant “ Don Miguel ”built into the walls of the gorge and had another great meal, Brenda had the Monkfish and Prawn Brochette, Norah had Pink Trout, Jenny had the Hake in a savory sauce and I had the Roasted Leg of baby Lamb with our own mint sauce! The Rosado went down a treat and the restaurant looked after us very well, we then went across the bridge into the old town and whilst the girls wandered about I did some checking out of the Boutique hotels for future reference ! The temperature went up to 33degs.as we walked back to the car.
Thursday 1st.
In the morning we went across to Estepona as I had arranged to meet Mano at the bank to pass on some payments for the work completed at the villa; Norah and Jenny went shopping and sightseeing as we had also arranged to see Ben and Andrea over in Benalmadena,they are over for a weeks holiday and are staying in the all inclusive holiday village. When we arrived the gate security would not let us in, the only way was to pay for a day pass,45euros each! So they came to the gate and we had a short chat, their baby daughter Freya is now 15 months old with blonde hair and blue eyes and we have fallen in love with her as they introduced her to us as Uncle Malcolm and Aunty Brenda ! The other piece of news they told us was that they are getting married in May next year, guess where, Gibraltar ! This means that the whole family will be down here in our neck of the woods and we will get to go to the wedding, when we receive the invitation ! We then went back over to Estepona and picked Norah and Jenny up and stopped at the marina for a quick snack lunch at the “ Irish Fiddler ”as you can see in the picture. In the evening back at the villa we had the Barnsley Lamb chops on Boulangere potatoes for dinner.
Friday 2nd.
Today the weather forecast was very good and so it proved; we drove over to Manilva then up through the mountains to Casares,Gaucin,Algatocin and into Ronda. We gave the girls the tour around Ronda and after parking the car we walked around the walls and past the famous bullring and down to the bridge across the gorge. For lunch we went to our favorite restaurant “ Don Miguel ”built into the walls of the gorge and had another great meal, Brenda had the Monkfish and Prawn Brochette, Norah had Pink Trout, Jenny had the Hake in a savory sauce and I had the Roasted Leg of baby Lamb with our own mint sauce! The Rosado went down a treat and the restaurant looked after us very well, we then went across the bridge into the old town and whilst the girls wandered about I did some checking out of the Boutique hotels for future reference ! The temperature went up to 33degs.as we walked back to the car.
ALGECIRAS/MANILVA.
Tuesday/Wednesday 29th/30th September 2009.
Tuesday 29th.
After are usual toast and tea breakfast I dropped the girls down to the Algeciras street market next to the bullring and shot back up to the villa; as I was checking out the e-mails the Skype phone alarm went off, it was Jack and Lyn calling from Australia so I was able to have a long chat with both of them and catch up with all their news, they are following the blog with great interest at the same time. At lunch time I went back to the market and picked the girls up and we went across the road to the new shopping mall to see the new Primark which opened two weeks ago, we all had a good look around and we picked up a couple of things including a new duvet cover for our bed in Manilva.In the evening we had the Chicken curry that I made on Monday for supper and all had second helpings all round !
Wednesday 30th.
This morning we went across to the house in Manilva, we also took Joan with us so as she could see the village where we live and how we live. I had practiced getting the VW up to the front door so as Joan could walk inside and she then was able to come with us to Bar Rochas for lunch, The weather was warm and sunny so we sat outside and as usual watched the world go by;Mano and Anna joined us later as you can see in the pictures below, the Rosado and beer soon started flowing and some other friends also stopped for a drink as they passed, we then had an excellent lunch of fried battered fish and frits together with various assorted Tapas to start and finished off with Carajillo’s.On the way back we called into Puerto Duquesa marina, the fishing port of Castillo de la Duquesa and finally the marina at Sotogrande as you can see in the last picture!
Tuesday 29th.
After are usual toast and tea breakfast I dropped the girls down to the Algeciras street market next to the bullring and shot back up to the villa; as I was checking out the e-mails the Skype phone alarm went off, it was Jack and Lyn calling from Australia so I was able to have a long chat with both of them and catch up with all their news, they are following the blog with great interest at the same time. At lunch time I went back to the market and picked the girls up and we went across the road to the new shopping mall to see the new Primark which opened two weeks ago, we all had a good look around and we picked up a couple of things including a new duvet cover for our bed in Manilva.In the evening we had the Chicken curry that I made on Monday for supper and all had second helpings all round !
Wednesday 30th.
This morning we went across to the house in Manilva, we also took Joan with us so as she could see the village where we live and how we live. I had practiced getting the VW up to the front door so as Joan could walk inside and she then was able to come with us to Bar Rochas for lunch, The weather was warm and sunny so we sat outside and as usual watched the world go by;Mano and Anna joined us later as you can see in the pictures below, the Rosado and beer soon started flowing and some other friends also stopped for a drink as they passed, we then had an excellent lunch of fried battered fish and frits together with various assorted Tapas to start and finished off with Carajillo’s.On the way back we called into Puerto Duquesa marina, the fishing port of Castillo de la Duquesa and finally the marina at Sotogrande as you can see in the last picture!
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